Draft hitch



Feb. 1l, 1947.l

H. R. FQRNEY DRAFT HITCH Filed June 8 AT TOR/VE Y6.

Patented Feb. 11, 1947 mutuo stares rarest GFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to draft hitches and more particularly to a device for connecting a trailer to a tractor.

An object of the invention is to improve generally upon draft hitches by the general simplication of said structures in minimizing the num- -ber of parts and making the same practical and eicient yet readily attachable between a tractor and trailer or the like, the device having provision for the extensibility and retractability thereof and the same having readily releasable means for holding it in its extended and retracted condition. v

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear in the following description.

A non-limiting but practical adaptation and exempliflcation of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a top plan view of the device in retracted condition;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure l and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 designates, generally, the entire hitch device. As shown, the hitch comprises an outer elongated tubular member E and an inner tubular member I fitted to slide longitudinally in said outer member 6. vided at its outer end with a conventional clevis 8 for its attachment to a trailer or the like. The inner member 'I is provided at its outer end with a clevis 9, in opposed relation to the clevis 8 on the outer member for the attachment of the inner member 'I to a tractor or the like.

The inner tubular member 'I is provided at its opposite sides with a parallel pair of longitudinal slots Iii and il extending throughout the major part of its length, that is to say, said slots i6 and II terminating in proximity to the opposite ends of said member l. A transverse bolt i2, located adjacent the inner end of said outer tubular member 6, is mounted in apertures provided therefor at opposite sides of said member t, said bolt extending through the slots I0 and II of said inner member 'l and transversely of said member l. The bolt I2 may be riveted nxedly in said outer tubular member B but as shown the bolt is provided with a fixed head at one end and its opposite end portion is screw threaded for the reception of a retaining nut l2 whereby the bolt may be removed and replaced at will and as may be necessary.

The length of the slots i and II and the rela- The outer member E is protive arrangement of the bolt I2 is such that the inner tubular member 'I can be moved to a position where it is contained with substantially its entire length Within said outer tubular member Ei and by the same token the inner member 'i can be moved to an extended position where it is, throughout nearly its entire length, outside of said outer tubular member 6, said bolt I2 anording a substantial stop engageab-le by the inner and outer ends of said slots I0 and Ii in the inner member 'I whereby the latter is arrested and held in its innermost and outermost positions in said outer member E.

Sleeved rigidly on the outer end portion of said inner tube l, so as to abut against the adjacent inner end of said outer tube 6 in the closed positions of the tubes as shown in the drawing, is a sleeve i3. This sleeve I3 may be fastened to the tube 'i in any approved or conventional manner, such as by shrinking or welding the same on the tube. However, by way of illustration, the sleeve I3 is shown in Figure 2 as riveted to the tube l, as at Id. Obviously, the sleeve I3 may be fastened to the tube 'I in any other manner as far as the present invention is concerned.

One function of the sleeve I3 is to reinforce and strengthen the outer end portion of said inner tube l and it also serves as a substantial abutment to engage the outer end of said outer tube 5 when the inner tube is moved into its innere most position in said tube 6. In this connection, it is here noted that the clevis 9 on the end of the inner tube 'l is formed by cutting opposite side walls of the tube away and providing the two remaining wall portions with transversely opposed apertures for the reception of the detachable bolt 9 by which the clevis 9 is detachably connected to the hitch element of the tractor (not shown).

A spindle element i5, having a suitable handle portion at one end for its manipulation, is hingedly mounted in transversely aligned apertures provided therefor in opposite sides of the inner tube 'I and its reinforcing sleeve I3. The handle portion l may be in any form and yarrangement but, as shown, it comprises a substantially Y elongated looped integral portion of the spindle i5 extending transversely across the upper end of the same.

An elongated latch element Il, located within said inner tubular member l', has a transverse bore therethrough, through which bore the spindie i5 is passed and said latch member il is xedly secured to the spindle i5 by a transverse pin I8. To facilitate the application of the pin I8 to said latch member Il and spindle I5, and

for its ready removal when desired, aligned apertures I9 are provided in adjacent opposite side portions of said outer and inner tubes 6 and (see Figure 3) for the insertion and application of a suitable tool. The inner end portion of said latch member I'I is provided with a hooked lug 28 arranged and adapted to engage said bolt I2 that is carried by said outer tubular member 6. As shown, said hooked lug portion 2@ of the latch member il is formed with a beveled face 2| so that, when the inner tubular member 'I is moved into its innermost position, as shown in Figure 3, said beveled portion 2l rides with cam effect at one side of said bolt I2 until the latch member is in position for its hooked shoulder t engage said bolt I2 and thus lock the inner tubular member I from outward movement in said outer tubular member 6.

To move the inner tubular member I outwardly in said outer tubular member 6, said latch element Il is moved out of engagement with the bolt i2 by grasping the handle portion i6- of the spindle i5 and forcibly effecting rotation of the spindle so as to move the latch member out of engagement with said bolt IE, whereupon the inner tubular member 'i is readily withdrawable in an outwardV direction with respect to said outer tubular member 6.

Any suitable means may be provided for holding said latch element in its bolt-engaging position. As shown, the latch member I I is provided with a rigid leaf extension projecting from its aXis in a direction opposite to that of its hooked end portion, as at 22, said extension 22 having a lateral stop pin 23 to abut the adjacent side wall of said inner tube 'I in the normal bolt-engaging position of said latch member II, and there being provided on the opposite side of said extension 22 a similar pin 2A which supports a helical spring 25 that is normally maintained under tension between said extension 22 and the opposite side wall of said inner tube l. By this provision, the spring Zyields to permit rocking movement of said latch member I I out engagement with said bolt I2 by manual mani ulation of said handle member I6 on the spindle I5. Said spring 25 also reacts to restore 'said latch member to its normal position after each operation thereof.

From the foregoing it is seen that there is' produced a simple and effective draft hitch device, of a telescopic character, which is readily extensible for the attachment of a trailer to a tractor and under conditions where the trailer is located at different distances from the tractor, and by which provision, afterl the-connections have been eected between the clevises` 'and 9 and the hitching devices-of the tractor and trailer, all that is necessary to complete the hitch is for the operator to back the tractor, by which operation the inner tubular member 'I is moved inwardly in the outer tubular member until the end of the sleeve i3 on the inner member abuts against the adjacent end of the outer tubular member, at which time the hooked end portion 26 of the latch member II has engaged the bolt i2. In this connection, it ishere noted that to secure a free and easy movement of the latch member Il into and out of engagement with the bolt I2 that is carried by the other tubular member 6, said sleeve i3 is proportioned in length and accordingly positioned on the outer end portion of the inner tubular member 'I so that at the time the inner` end of the sleeve I3- is in direct abutting engagement with the adjacent` end of the outer tubular member 6, there is a slight space between the shoulder aircrded by the hooked end portion 20 of said latch member I'I and the bolt I2. By the same token, when pull is exerted on the inner tubular member l to bring the shouldered portion 28 oi said latch member il into contact with said bolt I2, there is a corresponding space between the inner end of said sleeve I3 and the adjacent end of said outer tubular member 6 (see Figures 2 and 3) said space being designated by the numeral 26 and the size of the space being somewhat exaggerated for clarity in illustration thereof, it being understood that this space being only necessary to give the aforesaid free and easy movement to said latch member Il in its automatic locking engagement withbolt I2 when the inner tubular member 'I is moved into its innermost position in said outer tube 6.

With the foregoing description it is only necessary to here further state that, obviously, the spindle member I5 and bolt I2, together with the latch element Il, 'must be of suicient strength to resist the pull on theA outer and inner tubes fi and in the use of the hitch device'. The same isv true as to the pin or bolt member 8 of the clevis S and the corresponding bolt member il' ofthe olevis 9.

The herein illustrated exemplication of the invention is but one embodiment thereof. Therefore, the structure admits of considerable modification' within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and the invention is not limited to the speciiic construction and arrangement shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A draft hitch comprising an elongated outer tubular member and an elongated inner tubular member tted slidably in said outer member, said members-being'provided at their opposite outer ends with means for detachable connection respectively to a tractor and a trailer or the like, said inner tubular member being arranged and adapted for its substantially complete content within the outer member in the closed condition of the hitch and withdrawable also to nearly its full length outside of said outer member, said inner member having parallel longitudinalslo-ts in its opposite side wall portions, said slots extending at opposite ends `into proximity to the opposite ends of the inner member, a transverse bolt carried by said outer member and extended transversely across the inner end portion of said member and through the slots in said inner member, the outer ends ofV the longitudinal slots in said inner member, in the retracted'position of said inner member within said outer tubulai'membei, being closely contiguous to said transverse bolt on said'outer member, but, in the outermost extended position of said inner tubular member, the inner ends of its longitudinal slots being brought against said transverse bolt of the outer member whereby to prevent detachment of said inner tubular member from said outer member, a latch element located Within the outer end portion of said inner tubular member and extended supportedly inwardly from a transverse spindle element which is extended across and mounted rotatably in the oppositeside wall portions of said inner tubular'member, said latch member having a hooked end portion to releasably engage and hold against saidtransverse bolt` of said outer' tubular member, and operating means on' said spindle element outsiden of saidinner' tubular member for manual rotation of said spindle member to release its carried latch element from said transverse bolt on said outer tubular member.

2. An extensible and retractible draft hitch in the construction and arrangement of parts as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latch element is normally spring-urged and yieldably held in a normal position in the inner tubular member to engage the transverse bolt on said outer tubular member and the manually operable means for rotating the spindle element as comprising a transversely disposed elongated looped integral portion of said spindle element.

3. A draft hitch of the character described, comprising an outer elongated tubular member and an inner elongated tubular member tted and adapted to slide longitudinally in said outer member, said outer and inner members having at their opposite outer ends means for detachably connecting them respectively to a tractor and a trailer or the like, means comprising a bolt element fxedly secured at its opposite ends to the inner end portion of said outer tubular member and extending transversely of said member and through longitudinally slotted portions of said inner tubular member, said means, in the extended position of said inner tubular member, being arranged and adapted to arrest said member and hold the same against entire removal from said outer tubular member, a latch element within the outer end portion of said inner tubular member, said latch element being hingedly mounted on said inner tubular member adjacent its outer end and extending inwardly from its hinged mounting and arranged and adapted to releasably engage said transverse holding means on said outer tubular member, and rotatable manipulating i means located externally of the adjacent end por- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

